Apparatus for dispensing straws



Nov. 28, 1939.

c. w. BEAMER 2,181,542 APPARATUS FOR DISPENSING STRAWS Filed Oct. 31, 1958 2 Sheets-Sheet l 7 2 3 3 Inventor F E CH/IRL E5 14/ Bf/IMER By M rneys Nov. 28, 1939. c. w. BEAMER APPARATUS FOR DISPENSING STRAWS 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Oct. 31, 1958 Inventor 0mm E5 W BEA MER,

I A itorneys Patented Nov. 28, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,181,542 APPARATUS FOR. DISPENSING STRAWS Charles W. Beamer, Mojave, Calif. Application October 31, 1938, Serial No.238,031 1 Claim. (01. 312--84) My invention relates to improvements in apparatusfor dispensing strawssuch as are used at soda fountains and the like. v

I'he invention is designed with the particular purpose in view of providing an inexpensive sanitary apparatus for dispensing such straws one at a time from a source of supply and providing against the straws sticking together or becoming bent or otherwise damaged.

Another object is to provide apparatus forthe purpose above set forth whereby the straws are dispensed in a position and manner such that handling of the ends of the'straws is obviated when removing the same from the apparatus, so that said ends may be kept for insertion in a drink or the mouth.

To the accomplishment of the foregoing, and the subordinate objects presently appearing, a preferredembodiment of my invention has been illustrated in the accompanying drawings, set forth in detail in the succeeding description and defined in the claim appended hereto.

In said drawings;

Figure 1 is a view in perspective of apparatus constructed in accordance with my invention;

Figure 2- is a view in front elevation.

Figure 3 is a view in transverse vertical section taken on the line 3-3 of Figure. 2 looking in the direction indicated by the arrows.

Figure 4 is a view in end elevation.

Referring to the drawings by numerals, in theillustrated embodiment thereof, my improved dispensing apparatus comprises a casing l including a flat substantially rectangular bottom 2, similarly,

shaped ends 3 spacedapart a distance slightly greater than the length of the average straw, and a back l all formed in one piece and of suitable metal, the bottom 2 having a forwardly projecting ledge 55 and the'ends 3 having lower front edge extensions 6 forming end closures for said ledge. A-pad l of suitable material, such as felt, may be cemented or otherwise secured to the under face of the bottom 2 for cushioning the casing on a counter, showcase, or'the like.

The casing i has a top 8 and an upper front panel 9 both formed of rectangular plates of transparent material, such as glass, fitting endwise between the ends 3. the panel 9 fitting against the front edge of the top 8 and incliningdownwardly and rearwardly for a purpose presently seen. 'The top 8 and panel 9 are secured to lateral internal flanges lilextending from the ends 3 and to which said top and panel may be cemented or otherwiseaffixed.

Extending lengthwise between the ends 3 is an clean and sanitary in the upper part of the casing when a pair thereof is presented,

elongated'angular plate H of suitable metal including a top section l2 secured at its rear edge, as by soldering, to the back 4 at a suitable distance below the top 8 to extend forwardly and downwardly, and a front section l3 spaced in substantial parallelism from the panel 9 in the rear of the latter a distance somewhat greater than the outside diameter of the usual straw. I I3 as well as the ends of are free and the section l3 has its lower edge extending slightly below the lower edge of the panel 3 all for a purpose presently seen. As will be understood, the plate H forms together with the top 3 and panel 9 a hopper I4 I having a forwardly sloping bottom and an open'bottom chute l5 at the front of said hopper inclining downwardly and rearwardly, said chute and hopper extending clear across the jcasing l and having a transparent top and front. The back 4 terminates at the rear edge of the section H to proreel comprising a horizontal shaft l8 journaled at its opposite ends in the ends 3 of said casing l parallel with the mouth of the chute l5 and directly below said mouth, and a pair of a straw conveying discs l9 fast on said shaft adjacent opposite ends of the latter. The discs H are notched peripherally and correspondingly at equidistantly spaced points, as at 20, for the reception of opposite ends of a straw dropping through the mouth of the chute l5.

The spacing of the notches 20 is such that said discs l9 counter-clockwise as viewed in Figure 3, directly below the mouth of the chute I5 the front a preceding pair will be presented at of said discs above the transverse center of the latter. The discs it are so arranged that the peripheries thereof clear the lower edge of the panel 9 but the lower edge of section 13 projects slightly into each pair of notches 2i! moved into registration with the mouth of the chute l5. By virtue of this arrangement, the lower edge of section 13 coacts with the rear walls of said pair of notches 20, presented below the mouth of the chute 15, to yieldingly block further rotation of said discs with the preceding pair of notches located above the transverse center of said discs in which position of said last pair a straw lying therein cannot fall out. As a further result of the by rotation of described relation of the notches 20 and. section I3, each time a pair of notches 20 is rotated past the lower edge of section I 3, said section is slightly vibrated, also the section I2, to loosen up the straws 22 in the hopper I l and chute I5 and thereby obviate sticking of the straws, together, in said hopper and chute.

A comb plate 23 rising from the bottom 2 directly in front of the shaft l8 closes the bottom of the casing I below the chute I5 and straddles the discs I9 so as to act as a stripper preventing sticking of the straws in the notches 20 when the latter are in substantially lowermost position.

Fast on one end of the shaft I 3 is a ratchet wheel 2d adapted to be engaged by a spring pressed pawl 25 pivoted, as at 26, on an upstanding hand lever 2'! loosely mounted on said shaft, the arrangement being such that under forward movement of said lever and pawl, said wheel is operated to rotate said shaft in the direction previously indicated. A suitably connected coil spring 28 tensions the lever 21 against forward movement. A segmental guard 29 fast on the appropriate end 3 of casing I and through which the hand lever 27 extends", establishes a normal rearward limit of movement of said lever 21 under the urge of spring 28 and limits forward movement of said lever so that each forward operation of the latter, within the prescribed limit, results in rotation of one pair of notches 28 out of registration with the mouth of the chute I 5 and a succeeding pair into such registration.

As will now be seen, the straws 22 gravitate down the bottom of the hopper It into the chute I5 in single file to drop one at a time into a pair of notches 253 of discs I9 registering with the mouth of the chute I5 for conveying forwardly by operation of the hand lever 21 into a position such thtat they will not drop off the discs I9 and may be grasped between the ends thereof and removed. As will also be understood, in the rearward limit of movement of the lever 21, a pair of notches 20 is located in registration with the mouth of said chute and each time a straw is fed or conveyed forwardly the plate II is vibrated gently to loosen up the straws in the hopper and chute. The interior of the hopper l4 and chute I5 is always visible so that the condition of the supply in the hopper and chute may be readily ascertained. The ledge 5 provides an open top trough for depositing of straws if desired.

The foregoing will, it is believed, suffice to impart a clear understanding of my invention without further explanation.

Manifestly the invention, as described, is susceptible of modification without departing from the inventive concept and right is herein reserved to such modifications as fall within the scope of the-subjoined claim.

What I claim is:

In apparatus of the class described, a casing comprising .back and end plates, respectively, an upper front plate extending between said end plates, an angular plate-like member enclosed by said plates and forming together therewith a straw containing hopper having a discharge chute extending along the bottom thereof in depending position, said on the back plate for vibration to agitate the straws in said hopper and chute and thereby facilitate discharge of said straws through said chute, and means for conveying the discharged straws forwardly from said chute for grasping by the hand comprising a reel rotatably mounted in said end plates to extend along the bottom of said chute below the same and including a plurality of discs rotatable beneath said chute and peripherally notched to receive in the edges thereof the discharged straws, said discs and notches being constructed and arranged to en gage said member and intermittently vibrate the same under rotation of the reel, and a comb plate extending upwardly function as a stripper for removing straws from said notches sticking therein when the notches are rotated into substantially lowermost position.

CHARLES W. BEAMER.

member being mounted between said discs to 

